German scientists use light to trigger quantum effects in crystals

Researchers at the University of Konstanz in Germany have demonstrated a novel way to alter the properties of a material at room temperature using light, a phenomenon previously unpredicted by theory. By employing laser pulses on iron ore hematite crystals, the team was able to excite pairs of magnons—quasiparticles representing collective electron spin excitations—at their highest magnetic resonance frequencies. This excitation changed the magnetic properties of the material, effectively transforming its "magnetic DNA" and creating a temporary new material with distinct characteristics. Notably, this effect was driven by light rather than temperature, enabling room-temperature manipulation, which is uncommon in quantum experiments. This breakthrough is significant because magnons, which behave like waves, can be controlled by lasers to transmit and store information at terahertz frequencies, making them promising candidates for future quantum technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Unlike many modern quantum materials that rely on rare-earth elements or synthetic modifications, the use of abundant hematite crystals highlights the practical potential